Rafael Benitez expects Nottingham Forest’s motivation to be high when his Newcastle team face the Reds on Wednesday night.

Just as they did a year ago, the Toon take on the Championship side in the second round of the Carabao Cup, this time, though it’ll be at the City Ground instead of St James’ Park, and Benitez admits his side may not be strong enough to cope with changes and with Forest’s drive and determination.

Benitez knows only too well the danger which Forest can carry, given they were dumped out by Mark Warburton’s men 12 months ago, and expects a stern test under the Trentside lights with what looks like a very different team to the one which lost 2-1 to Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday.

Rafael Benitez will be without Jamaal Lascelles at Forest (Image: Getty)

“We have experiences in the cups that all teams are dangerous,” said the Spaniard at his pre-match press conference. “We need to give chances to other players as you have to use your squad to keep them happy.

"But the motivation of a team in a lower division like Forest is higher in these early rounds. It is a tough game.”

The Toon chief reiterated that his priority remains top-flight survival and warned fans to expect changes to the side at Forest, especially given injuries to ex-Red Jamaal Lascelles, Javier Manquillo, Matt Ritchie and Jonjo Shelvey.

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“We cannot lie to our fans and pretend this is the most important game of the season," he said. "We want to win.

“If we can win we will try, but we will make changes because we have to. We want to progress, but it has to be this way.

“The main thing for me is to be sure we are competitive.”

Forest are unbeaten so far this season, though they have won just one of those in normal time – a 1-0 win over Reading earlier this month, with first-round success over Bury coming in a penalty shoot-out.

Daryl Murphy jumps for joy as he rescues a point for Forest. (Image: Ritchie Sumpter @ JMS Photograph)

Their last Championship outing came on Saturday, when they fought back from 2-0 down to rescue a point against Birmingham City thanks to goals from Joe Lolley and ex-Toon promotion winner Daryl Murphy.